Ocean launches eco fashion label with VIN + OMI

February 5, 2019

“It’s great that VIN + OMI are working with Ocean Outdoor to recycle their vinyl advertising displays for the benefit of the Marine Conservation Society. Zero waste is the way forward.”

– Debbie Harry, Blondie

Ocean is launching a limited edition label at London Fashion Week on February 14 in a collaboration with the world leading eco fashion studio VIN + OMI.

The fashion label, the first from a UK outdoor media owner, will launch with men’s and women’s accessories made entirely from used vinyl panels taken from Ocean’s advertising displays.

This is a long-term partnership in which all Ocean vinyls will be repurposed, turning it into a zero-waste business. This reflects Ocean’s mission to remain at the vanguard of the out of home industry. Ninety-five percent of its estate is purely digital.

Pioneering fashion eco warriors VIN + OMI develop recycled polyester (rPet) textiles including silk like finishes and wool which are spun from salvaged plastic primarily sourced from river and ocean clean-up projects internationally. All of their textile developments for their collections have a social impact project attached.

The Ocean label will be produced in the UK and the pieces donated to Ocean’s charity partner, the Marine Conservation Society, to help raise funds to support the fight against plastic pollution and protect the world’s oceans and marine life.

The contemporary range will be designed with the help of students at Oxford Brookes University. The launch collection will feature in VIN + OMI’s London Fashion Week show on February 14 at the Andaz London, supporters of VIN + OMI’s eco contemporary shows.

Ocean will carry highlights from the show on February 18 across The Grid network and on the Piccadilly Lights, owned by Landsec.

Ocean senior marketing executive Liliana Teixeira said: “As a 95 percent based digital media company, Ocean is actively moving away from the use of vinyl. That said, it’s important we find the best possible way to upcycle the vinyl we do still use. This partnership also allows us to support emerging creative talent which adds to its scale and impact.”

VIN + OMI said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Ocean on this project. They have taken a great innovative approach to recycling their old advertising canvases. We hope to develop this collaboration to produce a range of items made from the canvases and in return support the Marine Conservation Society from the proceeds.

“Working with us on this project are students from Oxford Brookes University. It’s great that a planet responsible company like Ocean is helping us educate a new generation in how to do the right thing.”

Debbie Harry, VIN + OMI’s muse and supporter of the designers and their global planet preservation campaign, added: “It’s great that VIN + OMI are working with Ocean Outdoor to recycle their vinyl advertising displays for the benefit of the Marine Conservation Society. Zero waste is the way forward.“

Sandy Luk, Marine Conservation Society CEO, said: “Our partnership with Ocean began with a powerful outdoor campaign that triggered a significant shift in public sentiment against the perils of plastic. This new venture is an incredibly creative approach to funding to help support the change our seas need to recover.”